I walked into work a few weeks ago and heard my ASE Certified Mechanic on the phone. “Is it smoking? We’ll send the tow truck to pick you up. An overheated engine could mean a kink in the cooling system. Did you have us check that the last time you came in? Oh, I see. […]

We’re entering the triple-digit heat season in Southern California, and this is the time of year I begin to hear more from customers. It’s not so much that they want to stay in touch, although they like us, but that their automobile, truck, or van is experiencing problems. Part of the issue is that many […]

“Why do many auto repair shops treat women so poorly?” This was the question Julie, a newer customer, asked me during our first phone call. She found out about my shop from her colleague Suzzie, a long-time customer, after going through some fairly rough experiences with other automobile repair garages. Suzzie also mentioned to her […]

Someone Stole My Catalytic Converter! My customer Joe called the other day, and he wasn’t in a good mood. Nothing I did, but unfortunately he had become one of the latest victims in Los Angeles to have his catalytic converter ripped off. “I can’t believe it, Jack. I got in my Prius this morning and […]

A customer called our shop the other morning. “I can’t believe it! I just drove to the corner of my street, and I noticed smoke coming out from under the hood. What should I do now? It’s difficult to assess what is going on under the hood unless I can see, hear and smell it. […]

Regular maintenance such as changing the oil and air filters, rotating the tires , checking coolant levels, transmission fluid, etc. is essential to keeping your car in good health. However, not all pricing for these services is the same particularly when it comes to oil and filter changes in luxury vehicles. Why is an oil […]

By Jack Bulko, AutoAid The other day, I was speaking with another repair shop owner. He was complaining about Yelp! and similar online review sites, saying that positive auto repair reviews are few and far between. I told him that it depends a great deal on the shop’s capabilities, the mechanics’ knowledge, and the level […]

By Jack Bulko AutoAid Auto repair prices vary depending on the shop, the knowledge of the mechanics, the type of car, and other factors, and that’s why getting a second opinion on your car repair is the smart thing to do. Sometimes we are hesitant to ask for another mechanic to look at the car […]

By Jack Bulko, AutoAid Where is the dipstick in my new car? That’s what my client, Jane, wanted to know. She had purchased an Audi and brought it in for service. She said when her dashboard light alerted her to an issue with low oil level, she stopped and opened her hood to check the […]

By Jack Bulko Youve heard of AAA (the American Automobile Association) and may even be a member of the club, enjoying the perks and benefits that come along with membership in that organization. But are you familiar with AAA-Approved Repair Shops, or how going to one can positively impact the maintenance and repair of your […]